Smalling apologises for ill-advised fancy dress

ESPN staff

January 9, 2014

ESPN FC: Turning Manchester United around

Manchester United defender Chris Smalling has issued an apology after he was pictured dressed in a suicide bomber costume.

The front page of The Sun on Thursday shows the England international, 24, dressed as a "Jaegerbomber" - a pun based on the drink as his outfit combined a military-style vest accompanied by two bottles of Jaegermeister.

The newspaper quoted a United insider as saying: "Some people at the club will be absolutely appalled by this. I am shocked and disgusted by his behaviour."

The player's management company, the Wasserman Media Group, said the decision to wear the costume had been "ill-thought out and insensitive."

The statement read: "Chris and his girlfriend hosted a fancy dress party to celebrate Christmas and their belated birthdays with close friends in the assumed privacy of his own home.

"He dressed in a costume consisting of empty bottles of Jaegermeister and cans of Red Bull strapped to his chest in an attempted comedy play on the popular 'Jaegerbomb' drink.

"Although he fully accepts in hindsight it was an ill-thought out and insensitive decision, absolutely no harm was intended whatsoever and he apologises for any offence caused."